Traction-chain for caterpillar-tractors and the like



F. A.'PUTNAM AND 0. c. BEYOUM. TRACTlON C-HAIN FOR CATERPILLAR TRACTORS AND THE LlKE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26,1919.

Pmtea June 1, 1.920.

WI /l 1 I l l I F 1 I |I :1 A? f H '1 SW l= 1'" do youm MW Inventors.

Fred A. PuTnam ley C. Be byM Anya.

FIRED A. PUTN AM AND ORLEY C. REYOUM,

or KEENE, NEW namrsnmnjsssrenoss no r. A. roman MANUFACTURING commas, or KEENE, new HAMPSHIRE, a coaronerron on massaencsnrrs. v

TRACTION-,OHAIN FOR CATERPILLAR-TRACTClRS AND THE LEKE.

Application filed June 26,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED A. PUTNAM and ORLEY G. RnYoUM, citizens of the United States, residing at Keene, county of Cheshire, State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Traction-Chains for Caterpillar-Tractors and the like, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing. re resenting like parts.

his invention relates to traction chains for caterpillar tractors-and the like and has for its object to provide a novel chain which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, which can be easily repaired by any one if it should become broken, which is so oonstru'eted that it will not become clogged with dirt and which has other advantages that will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of our invention, we-have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be describeihafter which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a chain. embodying our invention;

Fig. is a side View. thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3, Fig. 2;

Fig. atis a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view showinga chain embody ing our invention having a. non-slipping tread;

Fig. (3 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5.

()ur improved chain comprises a plurality of sections, each including" a tread member and connecting); means for pivotally connectingi said sections. which connectimg means are situated at each side of the sections and constitute pocket-rcceiving elements to engage two separated axially-aimed sprocket wheels over which the chain runs. Eachsection of the chain comprises a tread mcm her 1 which may be wood or other suitable material, and two link elements 2 situated each side of the tread na-niberand extend ing longitudinally thereof.

The connecting' means by which these tread memb rs are connected together comprises the pairs of link members 3 on one side thereof and the link member 4 on the other side. These link members are conncctcd to the tread members by means of cross pins 5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June It, 19253;

1919. Serial no. 806,974.

which extend through the tread members 1 and links 2 and project beyond the links2 on each side for a considerable distance. The link members 3 are arranged in pairs,

the members of each pair being separated t'rom each other a suitable distance to re ceive between them the tooth of a sprocket wheel.

The pins 5 project beyond the sec tions 1 far enough to receive heththe link I members 3, and we will preferably place a,

roll 6 on the projecting end of each pin 5 between each pair of link members to make a proper wear surface fortheteeth of the i sprocket wheel. The cross-pins 5 are so placed in the chain sections that they are evenly spaced from each other, and thisefiords a series of openings 7,8 of the same wheel.

her-s3. The openings 8 are open at the side. ()11 the other side of the chain we provide link members 9 which extend parallelto'the' members 2 and are carried by the projectinc ends of the cross-pins 5, and these pro jecting ends of the cross-pins have rollers "53 the links 2 and 9. This construction also constitutes a sprocket-receivingportion which is provided with the spaces 10 and ll to receive the teeth of a sprocket 'whely'said spacesbcingz of the same size becanseof'the even spacingr of the pins 5. Each space 1]. is-

a closed space as it is formed between the two links 2 and 9, and each space 10 is-o en at the side as the s iaces 3 are on the ot. or

side of the chain. he cross-pins 5 maybe.

hold in placc by any suitable means such, for instance, as cotter pins 12. I,

In this construction all of the link in ent bcrs 2, 3, 4 and 9 are similar in size'ajnd shape and are duplicates of each other. 'In.

ordcr to make the chain, therefore, it is simply necessary to have the tread members 1, the cross-pins 5 and a suiiicicnt number of the link members to .form a chain of the desired length, and because of the simplicity of structure. the chain can be very easily' rcpaircd if it should be broken.

it will be noted that the construction proecciving portion on each sidc hi the chain and outside of the tread members. A chain of this sort is especially adapted for use in connection with a.-

applied thereto which are'receiy'ed between ging chain.

sprocket member comprising two axiallyalined rigidly-connected sprocket vheels 13 whichrare spaced apart a proper distance to coiiperate with the two sprocket-receiving 4 In the drawings fthese two sprocket wheels 13 are shown as.

5 portions of the chain.

15 portion of the chain to become clogged with dirt during use becanse any dirt which remains in'the spaces 7, 8, l0 or'llfwh'enthe chain leaves theground and'passes oier the sprocket wheel will' be forced outof these spaces by the teeth of the sprocket wheel and the chain will, therefore, be a non-clog ging one. a l j In Figs. 5 and 6 .we have shown a construction inwhich the blocks 1 are provided withmetal wcar surfaces-in the forxn'of plates 20 which are secured to said blocks by screws or bolts 21 and may bd provided with ribs 22 which prevent the chain from slipping.v

'30 Weclaim: V 4 1. A chain for caterpillartractors and the like comprising a plurality of tread members eaclrhaving two projections extending laterally fromeach side thereof, and a pair of links connecting the opposedprojections of one tread member to opposed projections .to the nextadjacent tread member, said projections and links forming a sprocket-receiving portion at each "side of the chain.

tread members, of two pins extending transversely through each tread member and proextending transversely connecting I sprocket receivmg portions, and tread mem- In a chain for caterpillar tractors and v the like, the combination with a plurality of r t A i l 4 6 nccting the pro ecting ends oi said pins and constituting sprocketreceiving portions. r"

3. A chainfor caterpillar tractors and the like comprising 'a plurality of tread members, two pins extending transversely through each tread member and projecting beyond the same at each edge thereof, links connecting the pro ecting ends of the pins of one tread member to those of the next adjacent'tread member, said links and projecting ends constituting sprocket-receiving portions.

4. A caterpillar chainhaving two parallel, separated s rocket-rece1ving portions,

each comprising pairs of linkmembers connected by a single link member and crosspins extending transversely across said chain and connecting the link members of both sprocket-receiving portions.

5 A caterpillar chain having two paral-r.

lel, separated sprocket-receiving portions, each comprising pairs of link members'connected by a single link member, cross-pins across said chain and the link members of both hers, interposed between said sprocket-receiving portions. I

(S. A. chain for caterpillar tractors and'the like comprising a plurality of tread mem-. hers each having two pro ections extending laterally from each side thereof to a'bar of links 'connecting the opposed projections of one-tread member to opposed projections 0n 1 the next adjacent tread member, said links being of such length that the adjacent projections of adjacent tread members have each tread member.

"In testimony whereof we names to this specification.

FRED A. PUTNAM. ORLEY o. REYOUM.

the same spacing -as thetwo projections of' have signed our 

